The narrator is staring out the makeshift window on the sixth day when he notices the curious absence of
the curate, who was usually close by waiting for his turn. Finding him in the scullery drinking, the narrator
becomes insistent on the need to ration, dividing the food up so it will last ten more days.

Through occasional physical fighting and constant watching, the narrator manages to keep the curate
under some control. However, the curate’s mental stability has been deteriorating since he first
encountered the Martians and has become insane. By the eighth day, he is speaking out loud of his regret
over his sins and his want of more food. For the latter, he threatens the narrator that he will become loud
enough to blow their cover with the Martians. Though the narrator does not give in, the curate does not
carry out his threat, but that day and the next his speech gradually gets louder.

When the curate becomes so insane that he starts shouting, the narrator hits
him over the head with the butt of a meat chopper, knocking him unconscious,
possibly killing him. It was too late to prevent the Martians from hearing
though.

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One of the machines stuck a tentacle in through the gap that had served as a window. It pulls the still body
of the curate out into the open and examines it. The narrator is unsure whether the Martian had seen him
when it approached or is able to figure out his presence from the curate’s injury. Despite being paralyzed,
and then trembling, with fear, the narrator manages to get into the coal cellar. He closes the door and hides
among the firewood and coal.

At one point the door to the cellar is opened and an investigating tentacle reaches about, even touching the
heel of the narrator’s boot. After some long, tense moments when the narrator is uncertain if it is still
there, and not until after cleaning out the pantry, the tentacle withdraws for good. But the narrator remains
where he is for another day, finally emerging on the eleventh day.

Notes

There is a reference made to Briareus, a somewhat obscure figure from Greek
mythology who had 100 hands and 50 heads. He is mentioned in connection
with the handling machine that the Martian is in.